显现节二

你的心也要被刀刺透

——路加福音二章卅五节

圣婴耶稣在圣殿被献与主时，西面曾经预言，马利亚的心“也要被刀刺透”。

十字架上，主耶稣呼喊“我的神，我的神，为什么离弃我”时，天上的父因耶稣背负人类的罪孽而向自己的独生爱子掩面。地上，一位“万代要称我为有福”的母亲哭倒在十字架下。丧子之痛，像是无情的利刃刺透了马利亚的心。

然而，“有福”的真正含义却又正在于此：与神同心，尊主为大，为神永恒的计划甘愿将身生爱子献在燔祭坛上！

为救赎人类舍弃独生爱子的父啊，我们所有的一切都出于你，饶恕我们的自私，好使我们甘愿为你的旨意将原属于你的一切都归献给你！

Epiphany 2

Luke 2:35

           And a sword will pierce through

your own soul also

 As the holy infant Jesus was being dedicated to God in the temple, Simeon prophesied to Mary: “and a sword will pierce through your own soul also.”

  When Jesus called out from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” the heavenly Father hid his countenance from Jesus because he bore the sins of humanity. On earth his mother, whom “all generations would call blessed”, fell to the ground at the foot of the cross, weeping. The pain of losing her Son was like a sharp and merciless sword piercing Mary’s soul.

  Yet the true meaning of “blessed” is contained in this: to be of one heart with God; to know God’s greatness; to be willing to give one’s only son on the sacrificial altar for the sake of God’s eternal plan!

  O Father, you gave your only begotten Son for the salvation of humankind. All we have, we have from you. Forgive our selfishness. May we return all we have to you from whence it came, that your will be done.